Review, Repair, Release: A Haudenosaunee-Led Initiative for a More Reliable Archaeological Record
For far too long, Ontario has relied on an archaeological record that is both inaccurate and difficult to access. The Ontario Archaeological Sites Database (OASD), managed by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, is a restricted government inventory of archaeological sites intended to help protect heritage and inform land use planning. It contains decades of archaeological information and is used in reviews required for many major development projects, including housing, roads and other infrastructure. Review, Repair, Release is a three part proposal led by the Haudenosaunee that calls on Ontario to address the database’s inaccuracies and inaccessibility.
Errors in the OASD can lead to unnecessary reviews or cause sites to be missed when a review is needed. In Bruce County, an archaeologist who reviewed nearly 300 sites found that almost one third were recorded more than 300 metres from their actual locations. Another 14 per cent were about 100 metres off. These errors can be carried into new reports because archaeologists may still be expected to use the database when reporting on known sites, even when they know the information is wrong. Those reports may then be accepted as the Province uses the OASD as a tool to inform planning decisions. The inaccuracies stem in part from how archaeological reports are reviewed and accepted, and how information is stored and managed.
These are not just technical problems. Archaeology in Ontario has too often disturbed Haudenosaunee ancestors and mishandled cultural heritage while disregarding Haudenosaunee governance. More than 80 per cent of the sites in the OASD are confirmed to be Onkwehón:we (Indigenous) in origin, yet Haudenosaunee people are excluded from information collected on their lands and about their history. Inaccurate records can put ancestors, burial places and cultural heritage at further risk, and leave Haudenosaunee history misrepresented or missing from the very system meant to document it.
Access to the OASD is largely limited to the Province and archaeologists. Onkwehón:we Nations and municipalities must submit an information request to obtain records, leaving them without direct access to information that can shape decisions affecting their communities. This can make it harder for municipalities to identify archaeological concerns early in the planning and permitting process. If a concern is discovered only after a project is approved or work has begun, property owners may face costly burial site investigations, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, even when they obtained the required permits.
As Ontario proposes to accelerate archaeological approvals, accurate records, transparent review and timely access to information are increasingly important. Review, Repair, Release calls on Ontario to examine how OASD information shapes archaeological report reviews and the planning decisions that follow, correct errors in the database, and provide Onkwehón:we Nations and municipalities with responsible access to the record. The goal is better planning, protection of archaeological heritage, and a meaningful role for the communities whose history the record contains.
To learn more about supporting our initiative please reach out to: katia@hdito.com
